Brew Healthy Tea From 6 Different Kitchen Herbs

The short, dark, chilly days of winter can make us long for something hot to sip in the evenings. And though you could start planning the number of tea bushes you’ll plant to grow your own tea one day, chances are you’re looking for more immediate relief. A windowsill herb garden could be the answer.

Here are six common herbs, along with simple directions for quickly turning them into healthy, tasty teas.

Sage

Often recommended by herbalists as a salve for sore throats, laryngitis, and tonsillitis, sage may also boost your mood.

To brew sage tea, place two teaspoons of sage leaves into a teapot, add a cup of boiling water, and let steep for 10 minutes. Try pineapple sage for a tropical twist.

Basil

The primary ingredient in Indian Tulsi teas, basil is another proven mood booster. “Holy basil, Tulsi basil, Thai basil—they’re all are pretty marvelous for making tea,” says Alexander.

As with sage, steep one to two teaspoons of basil leaves per cup of water for 10 to 15 minutes. Look for interesting, tasty flavors such as chocolate and lemon.

Thyme

Instead of reaching for that nasty, goopy cough syrup, try an herbal tea concocted from thyme. German researchers have found that thyme acts as an expectorant (an agent that loosens mucus in your chest), so keeping a thyme plant on hand could help with coughs and colds this time of year.

Steep two teaspoons of fresh thyme in a cup of water for 10 minutes.

Rosemary

Central American folk healers may have used rosemary as an insect repellent, but contemporary herbalists believe it helps with upset stomachs, headaches, and bad breath, among other ailments.

Regardless, if you simply love the smell of rosemary, enjoy a tea made by steeping one teaspoon per cup of water for 10 to 15 minutes.

Peppermint

Many believe that peppermint and spearmint teas help settle your stomach after a heavy dinner. There’s also evidence that peppermint can help with headaches because it calms muscle spasms.

Brew it by steeping one to two teaspoons of dried or fresh peppermint leaves per cup of water for 10 minutes

Parsley

Nope, it’s not just for garnishes anymore. A study in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine found that parsley may help lower your blood pressure. Another study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology reported that parsley may decrease allergy symptoms.

To make parsley tea, brew two teaspoons of the leaves or the roots, or one teaspoon of crushed seeds, per cup of water for 10 minutes.